Draymond Green reveals De'Aaron Fox Game 4 beef, vows never to change
Draymond reveals Game 4 beef with Fox, vows never to change originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
After serving a one-game suspension for Game 3 of the opening-round NBA playoff series between the Warriors and Sacramento Kings, Draymond Green wasted no time bringing his intensity back to the court in Game 4.
And De'Aaron Fox served it right back.
The Golden State veteran and Sacramento All-Star both received technical fouls midway through the first quarter at Chase Center on Sunday for some on-court chirping, and Green took to his podcast after the Warriors' 126-125 win to explain what was said -- and why his demeanor won't change any time soon.
"I return to the game [after the suspension] and, in true Draymond fashion, received a tech [after] about a minute or two of being in the game, if that long," Green said on "The Draymond Green Show." "Fox and I were going back and forth, he was standing up for his guy, telling me it was BS."
Fox had taken exception to a hard foul on Keegan Murray by Green, which knocked the Kings rookie to the floor. Green revealed Fox's reaction came after the Warriors forward told Murray, "Get up off the floor, bro. It’s what it is. Get up off the floor."
Even after both Fox and Green received techs, the back-and-forth continued. But Green explained why he didn't stop talking back, even though another tech would force him from the game.
"We had a little jawing," Green continued. "Quite frankly, if I’m being honest, in that moment, I’m like, ‘Alright, we got one tech. Cool.’ As long as he’s still talking, I’m still talking, because, guess what, if we get another double tech, we’re both thrown out of the game.
"I think my team can survive my absence better than the Kings can survive Fox’s absence."
Neither Fox nor Green received any more fouls for their trouble, certainly to the delight of both the Warriors and Kings. And despite his past with NBA officials, Green vowed his on-court fire is here to stay.
"My goal wasn’t to get [Fox] ejected because, quite frankly, I wasn’t trying to get myself ejected," Green said. "But I’m also not backing down or ducking no smoke, ever. And I’m also going to be Draymond forever, and ain’t nothing changing that -- not a suspension, not a tech. It [doesn't] change that."
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Green repeatedly stated the Game 4 beef between himself and Fox "is what it is" and that he respects how the Kings guard stood up for his teammate. And after the Warriors evened the already contentious series at two games apiece with their win Sunday, Game 5 on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center is sure to provide plenty more fireworks.
"I wouldn’t say, ‘No hard feelings,’ because it’s a playoff series," Green said. "All the feelings are hard."
